Trying not to kill my mind

Since fear is the mind killer, I am trying to have some courage. My mind needs all the help it can get these days. My fear in joining the Open Learning 17 faculty collaborative isn’t really about writing poorly or having nothing to say that anyone else wants to read (although I have those fears too); but more a fear that I won’t be able to keep up! Fear of being too busy. But Laura Vanderkam recently reminded us that it isn’t about the quantity of time we have, but about how we set our priorities. I am setting out this semester to facilitate an Open Pedagogy Learning Community at Keene State College where I work- but I have a lot to learn! It seems like a good idea for me to take advantage of as many learning opportunities as I can, so here I am.

There is so much to love about your post, Karen and it’s so good to catch up with you here. There is much to love in your content, but I’m OBSESSED with digital affordances and you did some really great things here that I hope everyone sees…I love them so much I hope you don’t mind me pointing them out for anyone who might wander by your post :).

1. You used a picture. The picture makes sense – it’s fully integrated into the theme and title of your work. Fan-freaking-tastic. I do wonder what would happen to the message if it were larger and possibly centered across the top of the page. Would it make more of an impact?
2. You credited the photographer in the caption and didn’t steal it..it’s a cc-licensed pic. Brilliant.
3. You did some nifty things with hyperlinks – you connected your post to someone else’s work and to your other professional work…you provided all of us readers with your context. These are the sorts of things I’ve been trying to get students in my classes to do for a while now because it helps them become more cognizant of their thought-connections/peer inspirations/big-picture-as-a-professional-and-not-just-a-student.

It’s good to see you in the mix. I’m excited about this experience and I hope you are too 🙂

Thanks Laura! I very much appreciate your comments and compliments, so very nice- makes me feel like a ‘good student’ again! I have learned much from you in the past and look forward to learning even more. I think that the picture does look better larger and centered, so thanks also for that suggestion. I am also continuing to try to teach these things to my biology students, so modeling is a good start. 🙂
I’m very excited about #openlearning17 and interacting with you and others in this community!

It’s been great getting to know you through #TJC17, and I so relate to your the emotions underpinning your post! There’s never enough time, but there will be good synergy between your local efforts with the new OPLC and #OpenLearning17. The two domains will amplify each other….at least that’s the plan!